Many Nigerians never believe that a mentally ill can be treated, but experts say it is a treatable illness, writes Woman Editor, Temitope David-Adegboye.
When news broke that American actor, stand-up comedian, film producer and screenwriter, Robin McLaurin Williams, apparently took his own life by hanging on Monday, his fans wondered what could have killed one known to have brought laughter to so many throughout his career.
Robin McLaurin Williams
He was reportedly battling severe depression.
The development has left many Nigerians thinking as well.
We have all felt ‘depressed’ about one experience or another. It could be a friend’s cold shoulder, misunderstanding in our marriage, tussles with our children, and sometimes we feel ‘down’ for no reason at all.
However, at the point of severity, depression can become an illness; when it lasts for two weeks or more and when it interferes with our ability to function at home or at work.
According to Dr. Patricia Chiegboka, a consultant clinical psychologist at the Psychiatric Department of 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, the experience of depression may be very different from one person to another, depending on the type of depression the person has, their personality and coping styles.
Generally speaking, someone who is depressed would: have a low mood, be pessimistic, have lowered self-esteem, feel hopeless and helpless.
They may want to walk away from things, for example, their job or a difficult marriage.
Dr. Chiegboka stated that many of the signs of depression would be clearly evident in a person who has depression. And for others, it may not be, as depression can often lead the person to withdraw from the social contact or to hide their real feelings from those around them.
Unfortunately, many Nigerians are ignorant about what mental illness really is, she said.
Different types of depression
*Melancholic depression
*Non-melancholic depression
*Psychotic depression
Different types of depression need to be treated differently.
Melancholic depression and psychotic depression, which are more biological in their origins, are more likely to need physical treatments and less likely to be resolved with psychological treatments alone. But non-melancholic depression can be treated equally effectively with physical treatments (anti-depressants) or with psychological treatments.
Treatment options
“If you have such feelings and they persist for most of the day for more days than not over a two week period, and they interfere with your ability to manage at home and at work, then you might benefit from getting an assessment by a skilled professional,” Dr. Chiegboka said.
Chiegboka, however, berates Nigerians attitude to depression.
“The Bible says my people perish for lack of knowledge. Knowledge is power. Our people need information about their physical and mental health. This belief that people can send certain illness to their enemies is massively killing our people, and this belief is being promoted by some religious sects who want to get the ignorant and weak ones to themselves,” she said.
“Our people still see mental illness as a curse, instead of a disorder of the brain. They never believe that a mentally ill can be treated and managed to be well again. Mental illness is treatable. Some are curable, while some are terminal.
“They either believe that someone sent the illness or it is a spiritual attack. If one has undiagnosed diabetes, hypertension or cancer, it is spiritual attacks; this is because they will never visit hospitals, and when nothing is done to help them objectively, before you know it, death comes. Accusing fingers will be pointed at an innocent person who is called an enemy.”
She added that mental illness or depression does not kill, but other conditions associated with it can kill. “Mental illness is a disorder of the brain and can be triggered by psychological trauma, stress, and life’s challenges etc. Mental illness is a deteriorating and progressive illness, if nothing is done to stop it. Early intervention and honesty is the key, but not denial and insightlessness. The brain is part of our body and can be ill as any other part.”
